Six years, three survey waves, and 559 adolescents from 90 homes in 15 German-speaking Swiss cantons: With the study 'StePLife – Residential Care in Personal Life', researchers from the School of Social Work FHNW and the OST – Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences systematically questioned children and adolescents in residential care for the first time in Switzerland. They asked what the 'home' means to them and how satisfied they are with it. Now, the data collection is complete; the researchers are engaged in detailed analysis before further scientific publications appear next year.
For Co-Study Leader Prof. Dr. Dorothee Schaffner from the School of Social Work FHNW, the results are as surprising as they are insightful: 'We know that adolescents who stay in residential care for some time have to cope with many transitions. They live simultaneously in multiple places with different people. At each of these places, they must create social and spatial belonging, as belonging is a fundamental need. If they succeed, it improves their overall well-being – the data clearly shows this. We should therefore support them in establishing belonging.'
Within the overall results, three clear findings can already be identified.
The 'Home' has more than just one address
For the vast majority of adolescents, the living group is just one of several places where they reside. StePLife shows: 83 percent lived at the time of the first survey in addition to the 'home' at at least one other place. Usually, this was with their mother, both parents, or father. Some of the adolescents had four homes, some even more.
All these places influence how the young people are doing. In this context, it is not just about the physical place, but above all about the people who live there with them. Dorothee Schaffner summarises this result: 'It becomes difficult if it is not possible to create a sense of belonging in the 'home', or if a sense of belonging cannot arise in any place – then the well-being of the adolescents is lower. We must therefore better understand how and where belonging is created. And we need to include the relevant places and networks of the adolescents – also those outside the 'home', because they are significant. The study also impressively shows that specialised or key workers in the home are important for support but often less significant concerning belonging. This must be considered when thinking about the role of specialised staff.'
Those who matter do not necessarily live in the home
Besides the place of residence, social belonging plays a significant role in well- being. On average, the adolescents surveyed named six people who are important to them. Noticeably, most of them do not live with them in the home, but outside, such as family members, relatives, or friends.
Particularly noteworthy is that animals also count as important relationships. In some cases, they are even more important to the adolescents than the specialised staff who care for them in the home, says Dorothee Schaffner: 'One adolescent reported many conflicts in the family, integrity violations, and bullying at school. From his perspective, humans are hardly reliable. For him, animals are at the top: They accept him as he is, they don't argue, are delighted with the attention, and seem to convey positive feelings to him. He also seeks contact with animals at other places of residence.'
Transitions are part of it, but do not go the same for everyone
No life in residential care occurs without changes. Some adolescents move to another living group or 'home' during their stay, and for some, moving into their first independent home follows a stay in residential care, but more than half return to the family.
While these transitions are not a major problem for most, they are very challenging for about a quarter of the surveyed adolescents. It becomes particularly challenging when important relationships and support are lost during the transition. Dorothee Schaffner sums up: 'For all adolescents, it is important to plan and prepare well for the transition out of residential care, as it can be quite challenging. We know from care leaver research that it is particularly important to offer needs-based support in the transition to independent living. And the study shows that a quarter of the surveyed adolescents face significant difficulties with this.'
StePLife makes it clear: The home is an important part of the adolescents' lives, but not everything. Dorothee Schaffner puts it succinctly: 'What is important is also the context, the before, and the after.'
Study summary: Title: StePLife – Residential Care in Personal Life
Organisers: School of Social Work FHNW and OST – Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences
Leaders: Prof. Dr. Dorothee Schaffner (FHNW), Prof. Dr. Stefan Köngeter (OST, now University of Hamburg)
Duration: 2021–2026
Funding: Swiss National Science Foundation SNSF
Sample: 559 adolescents (12–17 years) from 90 institutions in 15 German-speaking Swiss cantons
Method: Quantitative longitudinal study with three survey waves (2022/2023/2024) and 29 biographical-narrative interviews
Link to project page: www.steplife.ch
Contact: University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland FHNW School of Social Work Prof. Dr. Dorothee Schaffner Professor at the Institute for Child and Youth Welfare (Focus area: 'Transitions of Adolescents into Employment and Independent Living')
Hofackerstrasse 30
4132 Muttenz
T +41 61 228 59 35
M: dorothee.schaffner@fhnw.ch
www.fhnw.ch/sozialearbeit
More information at www.fhnw.ch
The School of Social Work FHNW
The School of Social Work FHNW, with locations in Olten and Muttenz, is locally and regionally anchored, internationally networked, and widely recognised for its achievements in education, research, and service. Its focus on 'Social Innovation' in research and development analyses, initiates, and accompanies innovation processes in cooperation and exchange with practice. It thus promotes the professionalisation of social work and makes a significant contribution to understanding and innovatively addressing social problems and societal challenges.
More information at www.fhnw.ch/hsa
University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland FHNW
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